Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of October 22-28

Celebration of one of the major Muslim holidays – Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Fitr); approval of the Cabinet of Ministers headed by Bidzina Ivanishvili by newly elected MPs; suicide bombing at a police post on the North-Ossetian-Ingush border; extraordinary congress Dagestani nations in Moscow; early termination of powers of Alexei Knyshov, Russian State Duma Deputy from Rostov Region, – look these and other events in the Caucasus in the review of the week of October 22-28, 2012, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Caucasian Muslims celebrated one of the major holidays – Eid al-Fitr

On October 26, the Muslims of Southern Russia, like their co-believers all over the world, began celebrating one of the major Muslim holidays Eid al-Fitr (also known as Kurban Bayram. This day in Chechnya, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia and Ingushetia was declared a day-off. The celebration started after the general morning Eid-namaz administered in mosques. After that, Muslims visited the graves of their relatives, and then performed the traditional ritual of sacrifice of animals, for which purpose particularly in Grozny before the holiday needy families received six thousand sheep. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the KBR (Kabardino-Balkarian Republic) bought 200 heads of sheep, which were handed over to Imams to make sacrifices and distribute the meat among needy people.

On the occasion of the holiday, Azerbaijan announced October 25 and 26 to be days-off. Residents of the country said that they treated the holiday differently – for some it is an important religious holiday, while others consider it a part of the national tradition of expressing the mercy to those in need.

Georgia: newly elected MPs approve the Cabinet led by Ivanishvili

On October 25, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the coalition "Georgian Dream" – the winner of the October 1 parliamentary elections, was approved as the Prime Minister; the MPs also approved the government and the governmental programme "Strong, Democratic and United Georgia". The govt was supported by 88 MPs, while 54 parliamentarians voted against. At the plenary session of the Parliament, where the government and the programme were approved, Ivanishvili presented its main directions, which ensure development of democratic institutions, the rule of law and justice.

On October 24, Ivanishvili presented his vision of the implementation of the governmental programme to the parliamentary minority – the members of the Party "United National Movement". They were critical of the programme, noting that promises were changing; while candidates for ministers at presenting the programme to the MPs raised issues not mentioned in the programme. Earlier, the minority MPs said that after the victory of the "Georgian Dream" at the parliamentary elections, the coalition would be solely responsible for the processes occurring in the country, including the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.

It is noteworthy that in the context of the formation of the new power in the country, Georgia is overwhelmed by a wave strikes with economic demands. Improved working conditions were sought by railwaymen, miners, energy engineers, employees of Poti Port, factory workers in Borjomi, merchants and builders.

North Ossetia: suicide bomber blows up Chermen police post

On October 23, during inspection of a passenger car that drove up to the post Chermen on the border of North Ossetia and Ingushetia from the side of Nazran, its driver triggered an explosive device. The blast killed a policeman named Zaur Djibilov on the spot and wounded four of his colleagues who were members of the daily on duty group. The checkpoint was completely destroyed.

The power of the bomb was over 50 kg of TNT (trotyl) equivalent. According to the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the attack was committed by Adam Ekazhev, born in 1988, a native of the Ingush village of Ekazhevo. The act occurred on the day of the tenth anniversary of the terror attack in the "Nord-Ost", and on the eve of the twentieth anniversary of the start of the armed Ossetian-Ingush conflict.

Dagestan: congress of republic's nations held in Moscow

On October 26 in Moscow, the hotel "Cosmos" hosted an extraordinary congress of the peoples of Dagestan. It was attended by about 300 people, over 200 of them were delegates elected from different territories of the republic and public organizations. The forum was also visited by members of Dagestani Diaspora from other cities of Russia, about 40 Moscow Dagestanis and a large number of journalists.

The forum was held under the slogan: "Not to admit war in Dagestan!" It was initiated by the managers of the Fund "Our Dagestan", Amuchi Amutinov, the former head of the Dagestani Branch of the Russian Pension Fund, and Gadjimurad Omarov, the leader of the Dagestani Branch of the 'Spravedlivaya Rossiya" (Fair Russia) Party. The congress delegates expressed distrust for the current authorities of Dagestan, and offered to dissolve the People's Assembly of Dagestan and hold the general election of the head of the republic.

Rostov Region: State Duma stops the MP status of Alexei Knyshov, member of "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party

On October 24, the Russian State Duma stopped the deputy powers of Alexei Knyshov, a member of the faction of the "United Russia" from the Rostov Region at his own application. On the eve, the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation made a statement that a check was underway on the facts of Knyshov's illegal participation in entrepreneurial activities. After that, the MP resigned voluntarily.

Now, according to vice-speaker of the Duma from the "United Russia" Sergey Zheleznyak, under the applicable law, the mandate will be passed over to the next candidate on the list of this party from the Rostov Region. He named Victor Vodolatsky, the Ataman of the Don Cossacks and vice-governor of the Rostov Region. Vodolatsky himself said that he was ready to take the duties of the MP.